Which of the following describes changes in forest cover in Costa Rica since 1940? Which of the following describes changes in forest cover in Costa Rica since 1940? Costa Rica rapidly lost forests from 1940 until the 1980s, but its forests have more than doubled in size since then. Costa Rica has lost virtually all of its forests to agriculture since 1940. Costa Rica's forests have changed dramatically in composition since 1940 because the forests have been invaded by European buckthorn and other invasive species. Costa Rica has been regaining lost forest land since 1940, when strict forest regulations were passed and the country began serious reforestation efforts. Costa Rica's forests increased in size slightly from 1940 until 1985, after which Costa Rica began rapidly losing forests because multinational coffee companies began cutting down rainforest to create coffee plantations.